Washington and Lee Women's Basketball Game Notes (Week 9)

BY THE NUMBERS:
5 - Number of home games W&L has remaining on the 2000-01 schedule
20 - Combined number of double-doubles for Jessica Mentz and Megan Babst this season
7 - Number of Generals averaging 18 minutes or more per game
88 - Points needed by Jessica Mentz to become W&L's all-time leading scorer

LAST TIME OUT:
Junior forward Jessica Mentz scored 29 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to help Washington and Lee defeat Villa Julie, 71-39. The Generals broke open a 13-10 lead with 8:35 to play in the first half with a 23-5 run to stretch their halftime lead to 36-15. W&L would outscore the Mustangs, 35-24, in the second half to preserve the 32-point victory. W&L was led by Mentz, who was 8-of-14 from the field and 13-of-16 from the foul line, and junior center Megan Babst, who tallied 17 points and pulled down 14 boards. Freshman guard Sarah Michaels gathered nine points on 4-of-4 shooting. The Generals shot just over 51 percent for the game, while holding Villa Julie to 30.8 percent. W&L also forced 20 Mustang turnovers.

SERIES CAPSULES:
W&L and Guilford have met 14 times over the years with the Quakers holding a 13-1 all-time advantage, including a 70-54 victory last week in Lexington. The lone W&L win in the series came on Jan. 23, 1999, in Greensboro, 63-61. Guilford has taken the last four contests.

ON TAP:
Washington and Lee will take a week off before its next game on Feb. 7 against Eastern Mennonite at 7:00 pm. The Generals will then host Randolph-Macon on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 2:00 pm. W&L plays five of its last six ODAC contests in the Warner Center.

THE COACHES:
Janet Hollack (Florida International '88) is in her first season at the helm of the General women's basketball team. She is only the second coach in school history after taking over for Terri Dadio Campbell. Hollack comes to W&L from Brown University in Providence, R.I. Assistant coach Bryan Snyder (W&L '95) is in also in his first season with the Generals. He is the head coach of the W&L volleyball team. Head Coach Barb Bausch (Cal-State Fullerton '87) leads Guilford in his eighth season at the helm. She holds a 145-78 overall record and a 13-1 mark all-time vs. the Generals.

LOOK OUT RECORD BOOKS:
Although Jessica Mentz is only in her junior season, she currently holds 12 W&L individual records. She holds or has tied the record for single-season points (393), points in a game (35), career points per game (15.9), season points per game (15.1), field goals made in a game (14), field goals made in a season (145), field goal percentage in a career (.538), field goal percentage in a season (.557), free throws made in a season (114), free throw percentage in a game (11-11, 1.000), free throws attempted in a game (17) and free throws attempted in a season (149). Mentz can also become W&L's all-time leading scorer with 88 points.

MAKE IT A DOUBLE:
While Washington and Lee has struggled to a 4-9 record in the first half of conference play, junior center Megan Babst has averaged a double-double. Babst is averaging 13.8 points and 12.1 rebounds in ODAC play. On the season, the inside duo of Babst and Jessica Mentz has produced 20 double-doubles with Babst (12) leading the way. Over their careers, Mentz and Babst have combined for 45 double-doubles (Babst - 23, Mentz - 22).

HELPING HAND:
Junior point guard Carter Thomas is leading the team heading into today's game in assists with 3.1 per contest. On Friday, Thomas has passed Allison Hull (1993-96) to move into fourth place on the all-time career assist list with 167. She can become W&L's career leader with 62 helpers over her next season and a half.

LUCKY NUMBER 70:
Since the inception of the W&L women's basketball program in the 1993-94 season, the Generals are 28-10 when scoring 70 or more points, including a 13-2 mark over the last two seasons. This season, Washington and Lee is 5-1 when scoring 70 or more points with the only loss coming at Shenandoah in overtime, 74-72. On the flip side, W&L is 2-15 over the past three seasons when allowing 70 or more points.

PAINT PALS:
The frontcourt duo of Megan Babst and Jessica Mentz have been reaking havoc for opponents all season. The Babst-Mentz combination is averaging 35.7 points, 21.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.4 steals and 2.7 blocks per contest this season. The duo comprises 60.4 percent of the team's points and 60 percent of the squad's rebounds.

DROPPING DIMES:
Carter Thomas led W&L to a 1-1 record last weekend, averaging 8.0 assists and committing only three turnovers. The Atlanta, Ga., native tied a W&L record with 10 assists against Bridgewater, while logging all 40 minutes. The record was also set by Jennifer Higgins and Jessica Morton. Thomas also averaged 4.5 steals over the weekend.

IS THIS THE SAME TEAM?:
In Washington and Lee's six wins, the Generals are shooting 45.4 percent from the floor and outscoring their opponents on average, 75.0-48.2. W&L is also holding its opponents to 32.6 percent from the floor and accumulated 112 assists, while committing only 112 turnovers. On the other hand, in the Generals' losses the team is being outscored, 63.8-51.5, while shooting 38 percent.

FREE OF CHARGE:
Washington and Lee has taken full advantage of its opportunities from the free throw line all season. The Generals lead the ODAC in free throw percentage by making 239-of-334 attempts (.716) on the season. Jessica Mentz has helped the league-leading mark by making 127-of-149 foul shots (.852).

WINDEX WONDERS:
Entering this week's contest with Guilford, Jessica Mentz and Megan Babst both rank in the top five on the W&L all-time rebounding list. Mentz currently resides in third with 596 boards, while Babst is fourth all-time with 579 rebounds. Tonia Dean (1994-98) is the leader with 755 career rebounds.

SHAQ OF THE ODAC:
After 13 ODAC contests, Megan Babst has cemented her name as one of the top frontcourt players in the conference. In ODAC play, Babst is averaging 13.2 points, 12.1 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, 1.9 assists and 1.9 steals per game. The Pittsburgh, Pa., native currently leads the ODAC in rebounding (11.8 rpg.). Last season, she averaged 11.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per contest in conference action.

LAST TIME VS. GUILFORD (GUILFORD 70, W&L 54 -- 1/23/01):
Guilford jumped out to an early 13-point lead in the first half that the Generals could not overcome and the Quakers defeated Washington and Lee, 70-54. Senior forward Arden Miller scored nine of her team-high 15 points in the first half to give Guilford a 34-27 lead at the break. The Generals closed the lead to five points, 38-33, after a Megan Babst lay-up at the 18:15 mark of the second half, but W&L could get no closer. Guilford was led by Miller and junior guard Amy Evans, who tallied 12 points and added seven rebounds, six steals and three assists. Sophomore center Shannon Underwood chipped in 10 points, three rebounds and two steals. Junior forward Jessica Mentz scored a game-high 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting. Babst added 21 points and 14 boards for Washington and Lee. The Quakers forced 26 W&L turnovers and shot just under 47 percent (27-of-58) for the game. Washington and Lee shot 40 percent (20-of-50) from the field.

SCOUTING GUILFORD:
The Quakers enter this week riding a three-game winning streak and currently sitting in a second-place tie with Emory & Henry in the ODAC. Guilford defeated Lynchburg, 84-52, on Saturday afternoon in Lynchburg. Erin Beacham led the way with 16 points on 10-of-11 shooting from the foul line. Reserve Jackie Hardenbergh scored 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds and made all five of her shots from the floor. On the season, the Quakers have used a balanced scoring attack with seven players scoring five or more points led by returning All-American Arden Miller. She is averaging team-highs in points (10.3 ppg.) and rebounds (7.3 rpg.).